Boring Lives

Some people have very high income goals and the pro athlete route didn't work out.

Think of the millions of people suffering in 3rd world countries that gladly work 120 hours a week just to survive. America is the land of opportunity, so why not take full advantage of that?

Enjoy school while you're in it, though. I don't work 80 hours a week myself, but I find time to work out, play soccer, and have some fun on the weekends.

Everyone is different, respect that.

Boring life? I think the idea of working a $50,000 a year job eventually eeking your way up to $100,000 after many years (ie: most jobs out of college) and retiring at 62-70 with your $1,000,000 401k (if you were smart) is a boring life.

To me, banking will be a means to an end to get out of the rat race while I've still got some fight in me. I don't need to be filthy rich, just liquid enough to support my hobbies and live off the interest.

I guess I see your point, but anything significant in the world is not exciting 100% of the time. I feel like in every high paying, high reputable profession there is always some grind at the lower levels. Athletes have to workout like no other, they have to eat on strict diets which some consider boring. Actors love the glamour and money ( if they are good) but there life is also boring at times, spending hours on memorizing scripts, doing retakes, dealing with papa is also a pain at times (look at brit spears). I do agree with you that editing for hours is boring, but at the top levels finance seems more of a sales/ decsion making position ( like most management), which is (to me) really exciting (very much so in the investing side in my opinion).

So when I start to think of this, I also think of the other professions that are supposed to be ALL glamourous ALL the time and how many boring things they need to do as well, then I feel better about the route I am headed.

Interesting thread though.

Boring life? I think the idea of working a $50,000 a year job eventually eeking your way up to $100,000 after many years (ie: most jobs out of college) and retiring at 62-70 with your $1,000,000 401k (if you were smart) is a boring life.

Don't get me wrong. I think that's boring as shit too.

So when I start to think of this, I also think of the other professions that are supposed to be ALL glamourous ALL the time and how many boring things they need to do as well, then I feel better about the route I am headed.

I've had the same thoughts you pointed out and that's the unfortunate conclusion I keep coming to as well. Pretty depressing when you think about it.

So everyone's clear, this isn't an attack on anyone's career choice, a work vs lifestyle debate, etc. Read the original post and take it for what it is.

So then what constitutes a non-boring, exciting life then?

Chances are it's not a viable option for most people.

Excitement and variety are what make life interesting / fun... A career in finance (or nearly any other field law, medicine, the arts, entertainment) isn't going to tick all of the boxes. so... Don't let your job define your life.

Compare two of my friends (same jobs, investment managers, late 20s): A - Does not do much apart from working and having the odd dinner with friends once a week. B - Travels once or twice a month during weekends, is more socially active and has hobbies (Ju Jitsu, racing/track days, skiing, etc...).

The difference between college and work life is that you have to make an effort to socialise and be active.

High finance is one of most rewarding careers financially. The only other alternatives usually carry much more risk, and require certain skills many cant develop.

I figure most who go into finance have the attitude that hard work/boring work will reward you later in life, then you can live life adventurously.

So it might be boring, but you need to provide for yourself somehow. So its just a personal choice, risk/reward.

^^ yep he is correct. When you think about it, nobody will trust you with their money (PE/HF/VC) to invest in companies/stocks whatever unless you have proof that you are good. How does that happen by having "Goldman Sachs TMT investment banking analyst" or if you have a great P&L in S&T, that takes grind and yea IBD analyst seems boring, but like the above said if you want to speed track through the corporate life you have work hard on some silly things. Haha thats why the CEO of Nationwide makes 2 mil and a 31 year old MD can make 2-5 mil, and a partner MD (GS) can even make 8-30 mil. Haha now lets say u want to be a partner at a bank then yea you sacrifice 15-25 years of your youth to hope that u will ring in 15 mil at GS, but in my opinion its worth it.

Much of life is boring, make enough to pay for your fun.

Money can't buy happiness. Enjoying your job is the route to happiness. If you're in finance only for the money, then get out of it.

@alexpasch: Wouldn't necessarily say I'm in it ONLY for the money, but it's certainly a big part and doubt anyone can really like finance without being partially/mostly in it for the money, a pretty key element to the game. I think we can agree the responsibilities of someone in finance the first part of his career are pretty mundane regardless of whether you like finance or not.

Several fair points have been made though. It's definitely a risk/reward thing.

Every person and job is boring sometimes. The key is not to get in a total rut and accept being bored all the time.

High finance is an amazingly rewarding career financially and those who do it the right way and get out at a certain point can live extremely fulfilling lives (few do though). However, there is a definitely trade off to being in high finance and that trade off is your freedom/time in some of your best years. Because of that (and honestly, I don't have a rock star background) high finance just isn't for me. I realize that this is a site geared mostly towards high finance, but I cringe at some of the attitudes towards working 100 hours a week consistantly.

Goodbread hit it right on the head - it takes some effort to have fun once you get a little older. That effort can be now if you're working 40-50 hours a week or in 15-20 years if you're working 100.

I felt like I was in a rut late last year and I've actively gotten out of that. In the past few months I've gone on a gambling trip, flew an airplane, joined a competitve volleyball league with old high school friends (AWESOME) and just today booked a trip to Belize. I love that I have the time and flexibilty to do that now. Those of you in high finance will be able to do this (and then some) later in life. The key is to make sure you're doing these things that excite you. It's too easy to waste away on the couch and it sucks that so many people do it.

Everything is boring or mundane after a while. Finance is at least well paying. Go take weekend trips or wine classes or clubbing, whatever. Work is work and your life is your life.

" I am in it for the models and bottles" XD

That's why you don't get married ScoobyDoobie.

Brady, sorry I miss read your post, but spending a grand on shoes or bags for chicks you casual date and hook up with adds up. Good look and never ever put pussy on a pedestal. Its pretty easy to fall for the trap when your banging a chick way out of your league.

its less exciting than doing extreme sports for a living or blowing up buildings for a living.

most things are pretty boring tbh, any normal job is boring as fk.

becoming a surfing instructor in thailand is fun for 3 years and after that ur just a loser and bored as fuck.

playing poker for a living is awesome if it works out, if it doesnt ur still not doing great and its pretty boring.

running your own business getting rich early and retiring at 30 then doing cool shit is pretty fun, but rare to pull off, and if it doesnt work out it sux.

what I think sux bigtime is doing IBD for life, your life is just shit until your SVP, and then you might still have spend 10 years+ of your life to find out you dont have clients and never make MD. and you make way too little money compared to how much you work. buy side is the only way to go.

Most jobs are boring...at least we're getting paid...

How i plan to not be boring...

1. never allow myself to become committed to one woman until im 33 (10 more years and there will be hard times to leave but its necessary)
2. mandatory trip somewhere new every 3 - 4 months
3. stay active
4. keep volunteering
5. fight the temptation to sleep in

do that and you'll be fine

I did that surf instructor type of job for a while and yeah it was fun living like that, but then there was always that stinging "I am a loser" feeling that I just couldn't take anymore.

Basically the grass is always greener on the other side. In any case it is an experience to take with me for the rest of my life.

IB doesn't sound boring at all. You should read some books about it.

^which sucks cuz a couple million only gets you 2500 sq ft in beverly hills (then u have $0 if u paid in cash -- but u wouldnt of course). lame

If you think your life is boring sleep less and do more.

an additional point...

i find happiness in the pursuit, call it "Pursuitology", i read an article a few weeks ago on forbes.com about it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2011/12/19/this-one-leadership-qu…

I live for the chase. As long as you can convince yourself to keep chasing something new you'll be fine. Chase new women, chase a new job, chase a certain body fat percentage, chase a certain score on a particular video game, chase a certain grade in a class, whatever the fuck it is just keep chasing and never be complacent and you can't help but be happy once you attain whatever it is, that'll clear out your boredom real good!

just my $0.02

^^^ true people should want to be successful in atleast 1 aspect of their lifes, To me now I really want some sort of trading internship where I can bestow my passion for the markets and global events in but.

I honestly think if you do what your passionate for money will follow, and for me being able to understand the world in politics, sports, weather, business (everything) and then betting that in a financial aspect is very exciting for me, being able to make a footprint in the world's economy. That is why I like trading (maybe FX a little more), of course my goal would be the best (like everyone elses) so you can have 50 mil in your bank, but just do something you are passionate about. My goal in life would be to become successful and maybe stop working at 40-50 and then write a book.

For you IB does not seem too interesting (i know analyst-associate work is shit) then try to pursue something else.

Great topic that deserves more love.

With the hours we're all pulling, it gets tough to do the things we want to do. Maybe this is why I only find solace in treating one night stands like a life source.

Do what you love, and be interesting. Work hard, but also keep up with your hobbies/outside-of-work interests. Easier said than done, but that's the key to not being boring.

leveredarb:

ScoobyDoobie:

Brady4MVP:

Mr Lemon:

High finance is one of most rewarding careers financially. The only other alternatives usually carry much more risk, and require certain skills many cant develop.

I figure most who go into finance have the attitude that hard work/boring work will reward you later in life, then you can live life adventurously.

So it might be boring, but you need to provide for yourself somehow. So its just a personal choice, risk/reward.

I agree 100% with this. The kids who had fun when they were younger often end up with shitty jobs and pay the price later when they have a hard time making a living and their wife leaves them for the more successful guy.

Sacrifice now and reap the fruits of your labor later. Good thing about men is that as long as you stay in shape, you could be in your 40's and 50's and still get tons of hot chicks. Make tons of money, and the pussy will follow. That's the TRUTH.

Brady, if you have a personality pussy will follow with or without money. You don't want "hot chicks" that only care about your bank statement. Bottlerats can smell that cheddar when you walk in the door. Unless of course you want to lose 50%+ of your wealth when she leaves you. There will always be more successful people than you, so don't pick a shallow women that is only with you because you have a high paying job because she will leave you anyways. The girls you meet when you have nothing are the ones that will be there when you have everything.

the whole theres always someone more successful/richer than you argument is retarded, there is also always someone with more game than you. do ppl in this place actually ever think or just drop random empty platitudes?

alot of it depends on what kinda girl you want as well, if u want a stuck up posh chick from a very wealthy background, well educated etc. then serving burgers at mcdonalds wont quite cut it.

regardless, what people tend to forgot is that your life doesnt just magically end at 25. and id rather have a lot of cash at 30 and sacrifice some time before that than just live some avg. life and wonder what could have been.

also the are md salesmen debate is ridicoulus.

its called the sellside, you are the clients bitch and if the client wants you to suck his dick you damn better do it because hes paying you retarded amounts of money for adding no value.

MDs have a slightly more sophisticated job than selling vacuum cleaners, but at the end of the day you still need to wine&dine clients and suck their dick to hopefully win some business.

M&A advice is a commodity by now, sometimes a firm has an angle or smthg and adds actual value that others couldn't add, but thats quite rare. so all that matters is whether the client likes the md or not.

• a lot.

Hard to take life advice from someone who thinks "alot" is a word.

FailedPrayer:

Great topic that deserves more love.

With the hours we're all pulling, it gets tough to do the things we want to do. Maybe this is why I only find solace in treating one night stands like a life source.

Serious question, why do so many people obsess over ONS/boning some drunk club slut you will never see again? i've done it before but cannot understand how people really enjoy a numb, sweaty, short lived sexual encounter with a trashy hoe. too much time/effort/money IMO. get a girlfriend or a brazzers subscription

getting trolled into old thread :(